Thermo Steps Up RNAi Market Presence
This is another move by Thermo to increase its presence in the fast-growing RNAi market. Thermo stated that Thermo Scientific Dharmacon is the leading company for small interfering RNA (siRNA). SiRNA and shRNA are the primary tools for RNAi screening in mammalian cells. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, Open Biosystems was founded in 2002 and has approximately 70 employees.
Waltham, MA 7/1/08—Thermo Fisher Scientific has acquired Open Biosystems, which provides RNAi, gene expression and protein detection products. Open Biosystems specializes in short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) and viral vector systems for delivering shRNA into living cells. The company had 2007 revenues of $14 million. Marijn E. Dekkers, president and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific, stated, “The acquisition of Open Biosystems further strengthens our market-leading position in synthetic RNAi products with highly complementary technologies based on advanced shRNA.” Open Biosystems will join Thermo’s Analytical Technologies Segment.
